Wherever you see an advertisement published, there's a team of people behind it. There's typically a graphic artist, videographer or other media professional that created it, and an advertising broker or sales agent who convinced the owner of the brand that they needed to place that ad in that specific location. While there's no one path to becoming one of these people, you can give yourself the best chance possible by studying about the industry, and networking with as many people as you can.

1. Take courses in marketing, advertising, business and communications at the university or community college level. While advertising brokers don't necessarily have to have a college degree, courses such as these will give you a strong background that will help you in your career.

2. Pursue internships in sales, marketing or advertising. If you're pursuing a degree, an internship may be a requirement for your education. In any case, it will give you connections in the industry that may lead to a job. Talk to your academic adviser about businesses to talk with or check out your local business listings for advertising agencies or media companies that sell advertising.

3. Seek out entry-level jobs in sales, marketing or advertising. Advertising brokers are responsible for selling sometimes large packets of advertising materials to clients, which requires skills in sales and working closely with people. You will gain lots of great skills by working your way up the ranks in sales positions at retail stores, supply warehouses or media outlets such as newspapers or TV stations.

4. Join an advertising-related association to make connections in the industry. Join the American Advertising Federation, the American Marketing Association or the chamber of commerce in your area and attend some of their events to network with other people in the area. Landing a job often means knowing the right people -- this is one way to meet them.

5. Create a resume that highlights the skills you possess that make you a great advertising broker, as well as any work or internship experience you have. Include your memberships in those associations on your resume, to demonstrate that you're committed to the industry.

About the Author

Nicole Vulcan has been a journalist since 1997, covering parenting and fitness for The Oregonian, careers for CareerAddict, and travel, gardening and fitness for Black Hills Woman and other publications. Vulcan holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and journalism from the University of Minnesota. She's also a lifelong athlete and is pursuing certification as a personal trainer.